A judge in Georgia dismissed a Republican lawsuit seeking to block voters from hand-returning mail-in ballots over the weekend. The lawsuit focused on officials in Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold, opening county offices to allow voters to hand in their ballots. Other Democratic-leaning counties in the state also announced similar measures. While state law prohibits ballot drop boxes from being open past the end of advance voting, voters are allowed to hand in mail ballots until polls close on Tuesday night. Despite arguments from a GOP lawyer, the judge rejected all claims, allowing voters to continue hand-returning their absentee ballots.
The lawsuit was filed just after early voting ended in Georgia, where nearly 4 million early votes were cast. The emergence of Democratic-leaning counties opening county offices for voters to hand-deliver their ballots spurred the legal challenge. However, the judge ultimately ruled that it was not a violation of state law for voters to hand-return their absentee ballots after early voting had concluded. Despite the efforts of the GOP lawyer, the judge’s decision allowed the few dozen voters who had already taken advantage of the open county offices to hand in their ballots.
Georgia, a traditionally Republican state, saw a narrow victory for President Biden over former President Trump in the 2020 election. Following the election, Trump made unfounded claims of fraud in Fulton County, spurring increased attention on the state as a battleground. Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have been actively campaigning in Georgia in the lead-up to the current election. The state’s nearly 4 million early votes have added to the high stakes in Georgia’s increasingly pivotal role in national politics.
The decision by the Georgia judge to dismiss the Republican lawsuit and allow voters to hand-return their mail-in ballots over the weekend highlights the ongoing battle over voting access and security. Amid a surge in early voting and increased attention on Georgia as a critical state in national elections, the outcome of this legal challenge has significant implications for the democratic process. The judge’s ruling represents a victory for voters seeking to ensure their ballots are counted in a timely and secure manner as the election nears its conclusion.
The legal battle over mail-in ballot hand-deliveries in Democratic-leaning counties in Georgia echoes larger debates over voting rights and access across the country. Republican efforts to restrict or challenge voting methods, particularly in areas that traditionally lean Democratic, have sparked controversy and legal challenges. The decision by the Georgia judge to reject the Republican lawsuit serves as a counterpoint to these efforts and reinforces the importance of protecting voters’ rights to access secure and convenient voting methods. As the election continues, the outcome of these legal battles will continue to shape the future of voting rights in Georgia and beyond.
